I punched in Lucas’s number, my thumb hovering over the call button for a second too long. Taking a deep breath, I pressed it.
Lucas and I had a silent understanding. He always picked up, no matter the hour.
As the phone rang, a vision of his face flashed in my mind: a strong jawline etched with worry lines that had seemed to deepen within his year of knowing me.
The ring cut off abruptly, replaced by Lucas’s deep voice. “Is everything okay?” he asked.
I choked back a sob, the sound catching in my throat like a fist. My hand trembled as I gripped the phone tighter. I knew then that the silence was screaming, telling him everything I couldn’t voice. “I ... I ...” I stuttered, frustration fighting within me.
“Rose?”
“Why didn’t you tell me he was released?”
He stayed silent. “Max?” He finally spoke, his voice strained. “He still has years left. You’re safe.”
He didn’t understand. He hadn’t seen those familiar brown eyes. Or was I seeing things?
“Are you sure?”
Lucas yelled at someone in the background, his voice the complete opposite of what it was when he was talking to me. I hoped I’d never make an enemy of him. “Yeah, I’m positive. Your father wouldn’t let you walk around like this if it weren’t safe.”
There wasn’t a corner on this earth that could keep me safe from Max Romano—not if he was out of jail.
“You’re right. I’m sure it was nothing.” I took in a deep breath, hoping that would do something—anything—to calm my nerves. It didn’t. “What’s your route tonight?” I asked.
“It’s the usual. Southside. Why?”
“Do you think you could come by?” The words tumbled out. “Just for a bit.”
Silence stretched between us, then a reluctant sigh. “Yeah, I can swing by that way.”
Relief washed over me. Then, just as abruptly as it had arrived, hope died. A sharp crackle erupted from the phone, the dispatcher’s voice cutting through our conversation.
“Robbery . . . gunshots . . . two suspects . . .”
“Sorry, baby, I gotta go.” His voice was strained with urgency. “There’s no telling how long this will take, but I’ll be there once I’m off-duty.”
The line clicked dead, leaving me alone with a silence that was suddenly heavier, more menacing, than before.
“Psst,” I whispered, calling attention to my dog sitting beside me. “Duke.”
He lifted his head and whined softly. His eyes held a focus that saw right through my façade. Duke was a dark, long-haired German shepherd, and he was my lifeline. He kept me safe. Alert.Calm.
Finally, I fumbled for my keys. With a deep breath, I unlocked the door to my apartment.
Once inside, I slammed the door shut. The door and the lock weren’t enough. Grabbing a chair from the kitchen table, I wedged it against the doorknob.
Suddenly, the words came back to me.
“You may think you’re safe, but the world hasn’t forgotten who your family is. There are those who wouldn’t hesitate to exploit a weakness, a careless mistake.”
He’d told me everything I needed to know, and yet I’d refused to believe it.
Hours crawled by as I sat on the couch with Duke by my side. My mind raced with memories, questions, and fears. Every creak of the building, every waterdrop from the sink, heightened my anxiety. I needed Lucas to come home.
Finally, close to midnight, I heard the faint sound of footsteps outside my door, followed by a gentle knock. Duke’s ears perked up, and he stood, his body tense but not aggressive. He recognized the familiar scent.
I stood, my legs wobbly, and made my way to the door, peering cautiously through the peephole. Relief washed over me when I saw Lucas standing on the other side.
